Dear Lifehacker,
The hot, hazy days of summer are really starting to drag me down at work. I'm finding it harder to get things done and stay motivated, when all I really feel like doing is leaving work early and relaxing at the pool. Is there any cure for the summertime slump?
Signed,
Lazy in the Heat

Dear Lazy,
You're definitely not alone. Thanks to the warmer weather, workplace productivity tumbles about 20% in the summer, according to a recent survey of 600 workers by Captivate Network. More of us feel distracted, take longer to complete projects, go on longer lunch breaks, and even have a drop in work attendance. While this is a natural phenomenon, though, you can still get your work done despite the heat waves. Here are a few ideas to get over the slump:

Set the Thermostat at the Optimal Temperature for Working

If the temperature inside your office is too high or too low, your productivity can suffer. This infographic from Grasshopper, citing research from the Helsinki University of Technology and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, states the optimal office temperature is between 70 and 72 degrees (Fahrenheit). For every degree over 77 degrees, productivity drops 2%, and below 68 degrees, error rates increase dramatically. So if you have control over the thermostat or can sway your office manager, get your office environment to that "just right" temperature range. (10% of employees also waste time arguing over the office temperature, so if everyone could just agree on the 70 to 72 degrees setting, we could also save time.)

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If you tend to do the same things at work in a set order, consider either switching up the order or injecting a new task or activity. The summer is a great time to learn new things and challenge yourself.

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Don't beat yourself up too much if you're not working as your ideal productive self. Some days you'll be very productive, and perhaps other not. Just try to get your most important things done, and remember to take breaks to recharge.